CBD Oil For Pets: A Guide that You Need to Know

Most owners may be familiar with CBD oil that can help their pets. You can read more about this extract in this useful site here. Products from cannabidiol have gotten a lot of attention lately because they have many benefits, including helping pets with anxieties, stress, loss of appetite, and more.

Most of the studies regarding cannabis and pets are not new. In America, the cannabis plant was used to stallions with colic in the 1800s. There are also several potential benefits that the cannabis plant can offer to other illnesses mentioned in a 1914 issue of a veterinary magazine.

If you are rushing to buy this product for your dog, then know that cannabis extracts are not created equal. You should be aware of a few differences, and there’s still a lot of in-depth studies needed to support the claims of most pet parents. You also need to research carefully the company where you are buying the oil and CBD treats to ensure that they are legitimate and trustworthy.

Most of the ingredients in the oil interact with your canine or feline’s endocannabinoid system or ECS. The ECS is responsible for bodily functions such as eating, sleeping, and pain. When the oil gets into the ECS, it can decrease painful sensations and increase feelings of calmness. Here are other things that you may find useful regarding cannabidiol.

THC And CBD: Are they the Same?

It is important that you need to watch out for the THC percentage before buying the product. The THC is a compound that is present in marijuana, and it makes its users feel stoned. It is also psychoactive, and it can affect the cognitive functions of your dogs in higher doses. All dogs and cats are sensitive to cannabis products, and owners are strongly discouraged to avoid THC products even if they are in trace quantities. The amount of THC that can intoxicate your pet is about 30% or more. This can intoxicate your pets and affect their cognitive behaviors. 

In the United States, medical cannabis or hemp has been legalized. This is because the products containing hemp or CBD has only about 0.3% THC mixed in them. Still, it’s still important that you check the labels because you should not give any THC products to your dog. However, there is still an incidence of owners seeing their canines get intoxicated with THC because it is not meant for animal ingestion.

Some of the side effects that you may see on your pet after they ingest THC can include urinary incontinence, lethargy, extreme anxiety, ataxia, and slow heart rate. In severe cases, most of the pets enter a coma state after getting large doses of THC and others sometimes result in death. This is also one of the reasons why THC is illegal in many parts of the United States and in the world.

You need to avoid THC, but fortunately, another extract from the cannabis plant presents a different result. This extract is called cannabidiol, which has lots of therapeutic effects on both humans and animals. You can click the link for Holista Pet to know more about the CBD oil benefits to your furry friends. What you need to remember is CBD is way different than THC, and it can improve the quality of your pet’s life in more ways than you can imagine.

Introduction to CBD

CBD is extracted from the flowers, stalks, and leaves of the hemp plant using the CO2 method. The resulting oil can benefit your furry friend by helping them in the following medical conditions:

  • Psoriasis
  • Cancer
  • Epilepsy
  • Anxiety
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic Pain

The above lists are just some of the things that CBD oil can help your pet with. There are a lot of anecdotal pieces of evidence where their dogs were diagnosed with cancer. When they continued administering the oil for a year or more, they discovered that some of the symptoms of diseases such as tumors disappeared within three years, and it never went back.

Although more studies and findings are needed to verify the claims, the number of pet parents that tell that CBD oil has impacted their dogs and cats’ lives for the better is growing. The FDA has even approved a drug called Epidiolex that treated a specific illness in humans. Epidiolex is made from CBD with a pharmaceutical-grade label.

Most of the studies for pet-related products are still on their early stages. Some vets and scientists who want to know more about cannabidiol conduct clinical trials in their own laboratories. Some clinical trials aim to find out the efficiency of the cannabidiol oil to epilepsy in canines.

Side Effects that You Need to Watch Out

There are times when your pet may experience mild side effects, but this is rare. Depending on the breed and the ingredients in the product you have bought, you might want to watch for adverse side effects such as vomiting, drowsiness, or diarrhea. This is because the effect of cannabidiol is to lessen your pet’s anxiety and stress. Generally, the oil is safe to consume and you can read more about its safety here:  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327518. 

They may want to sleep the whole day as their bodies are still adjusting to the oil. If you suspect that they are showing symptoms of a disease and it’s not just side effects, you need to call your vet immediately. Schedule a visit and make sure that you mention all the other things that your pet has possibly ingested, including the food and other medications that he has taken within the week.

Doses

There are dosage charts and tables that you can follow. The recommended dose is about 20 mg/kg of your pet’s weight. You can gradually increase the doses in just a few weeks if you notice positive changes to your canine’s behavior.

Go slow with the tinctures or introduce them to cannabidiol treats to make their bodies accustomed to CBD. You should also follow the instructions on the labels or ask the manufacturers about the minimum and maximum doses that you should give. Please read the other ingredients to make sure that they will not cause any allergies to your furry friend.